Paul Fridolin Kehr draws attention to a group of bishops who are attested between 649 and 769 and identified as bishops of Martirano in the Italia Sacra of Ferdinand Ughelli: Reparatus, Opportunus, Domnus and Bonus.[3] Inspection of the evidence shows that these bishops belonged to the diocese of Manturano in Tuscany, not Martirano in Calabria.[4] Francesco Lanzoni likewise rejects Reparatus as a bishop of Martirano.[5] These bishops cannot be used to argue for an early establishment of the diocese. Ughelli also reports that Arnulphus was a bishop of Martirano, citing William of Tyre's story of his attempting to intrude himself into the Patriarchate of Jerusalem. But William of Tyre does not say that Arnulphus was Bishop of Martirano c. 1100;[6] it is only a conjecture of Ughelli.[7] Ughelli also reports the existence of a Bishop Rodulphus under Pope Calixtus II, but the documents on which the report is based are forgeries.[8]
It is said that the Diocese of Martirano was established in 1099.[2] Louis Duchesne states that Martirano had been a suffragan of Salerno in 1058,[9] and that Martirano may have replaced the Byzantine Greek diocese of Amantea.[10]
In 1638 a major earthquake struck Calabria. At Martirano the death toll was 517, and most of the town was destroyed.[11] The cathedral could not be repaired, and Bishop Cellesio had to begin building a new one.[12]
The Cathedral was served by a Chapter, composed of four dignities (the Dean, the Archdeacon, the Cantor and the Treasurer) and eight Canons. Bishop Pierbenedetti added six chaplains. All were required to be in priestly orders.[12] In 1703 the number of Canons was twelve.[13]
Bishop Marino Pierbenedetti (1577–1591) was also responsible for the building of the seminary in Martirano, in accordance with the decrees of the Council of Trent and the active encouragement of Bishop Gaspare del Fosso, Archbishop of Reggio and Metropolitan of Calabria.[14]
On 27 June 1818 the diocese of Martirano was suppressed and its territory was added to that of the Diocese of Nicastro, in accordance with the Bull In ultilori of Pope Pius VII.[15] This was in conformity with the Concordat of 1818, between the Holy See and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.[16]
In 1968 the title "Bishop of Martirano", though not the institution of a diocese, was restored in the Titular Episcopal See of Martirano.[2] It was used for auxiliary bishops in Brazil and the Philippines, but it is currently held by the President of the Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses, Archbishop (personal title) Piero Marini, who had once been Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations for John Paul II and Benedict XVI.[17][self-published source?]
^Ritzler-Sefrin, V, p. 259 note 1. In that year the population of the town was estimated at 1,000. In 1758 the inhabitants were numbered at c. 2,000: Ritzler-Sefrin, VI, p. 279 note 1.
^Giovanni da Bisignano was transferred to the diocese of Bisignano on Eubel, I, pp. 329.
^Giacomo Castellani was transferred to the diocese of Nicastro on 2 April 1390. He died in 1394. Eubel, I, pp. 329, 362.
^Antonius had been Bishop of Bosa (Sardinia) from 1413 to 1418. Eubel, I, pp. 141, 329.
^Carlo of Naples had been appointed on 12 December 1440, but refused the appointment. Eubel, II, p. 186 note 1.
^Godfridus had been Dean of the Cathedral Chapter of Tropea. He was transferred to the diocese of San Marco on 11 February 1446. Eubel, II, pp. 185, 186.
^Cola had previously been Bishop of San Marco (1435–1446). Eubel, II, pp. 185, 186.
^Martinus had been Bishop of Isola (1446–1451). He was transferred to the diocese of Cotrone on 3 February 1464. He died in 1465. Eubel, II, pp. 135, 166, 186.
^Biennato was a cleric of the diocese of Milan. Eubel, II, p. 127.
^Pappacodo was a cleric of the diocese of Naples. Eubel, II, p. 127.
^Feduzi (Jacobus de Ancona): Eubel, III, p. 237, with note 3.
^Gallio was first papal Secretary. He was appointed Archbishop of Manfredonia on 6 July 1562. On 12 March 1565 he was named a Cardinal by Pope Pius IV. Eubel, III, pp. 40 no. 27; 237; 301 with note 11.
^Federici had previously been Bishop of Eubel, III, p. 237 with note 5.
^Mariano Pierbenedetti was Governor of the City of Rome (1585–1589). He was named a Cardinal by Pope Sixtus V on 20 December 1589. Eubel, III, pp. 53 no. 30; 237.
^Phili was a Doctor of Canon Law. Appointed, Bishop of Nocera Umbra. Eubel, III, p. 237, with note 8.
^Palamolla was a native of Toraca (diocese of Policastro). He was a Doctor in utroque iure (Civil and Canon Law). Gauchat, IV, p. 233 with note 5.
^Veraldi was born at Taverna (diocese of Catanzaro) in 1650. He held a doctorate from the Sapienza in Rome. He was consecrated in Rome by Cardinal Gaspare Carpegna on 15 March 1693. Ritzler-Sefrin, V, p. 259 with note 3.
^Righetti was born in San Mauro (diocese of Santa Severina) in 1646. He was a Doctor in utroque iure (Civil and Canon Law) from the Sapienza in Rome (1675), and became Synodal Examiner for the Abbey of Farfa. He was a lecturer in law at the Sapienza. Ritzler-Sefrin, V, p. 259 with note 4.
^Pietrasanta: Ritzler-Sefrin, V, p. 259 with note 5.
^Falcone was born in Naples in 1681. He was Doctor in utroque iure (Civil and Canon Law) and theology from the Sapienza in Rome (1724). He was consecrated in Rome on 28 June 1733 by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Altieri. He was appointed Archbishop of Santa Severina. Ritzler-Sefrin, VI, p. 279 with note 2.
^Bernardi: Ritzler-Sefrin, VI, p. 279 with note 3.
^Spedalieri was born in Badolato (diocese of Squillace) in 1705. He obtained the degree Doctor in utroque iure (Civil and Canon Law) from the University of Naples in 1753. He was appointed a Vicar General of the diocese of Umbriatico, and then of Reggio Calabria. He was consecrated a bishop in Rome on 24 December 1758 by Cardinal Joaquín Fernández de Portocarrero. He was appointed Bishop of Oppido Mamertina on 29 January 1770. He died in the village of Guardavalle on 5 April 1783. Ritzler-Sefrin, VI, p. 279 with note 4; p. 318 with note 4.
